Bath mat hanger



H. T. FLINN BATH MAT HANGER Jan. 15, 1957 Filed Oct. 2, 1952 Howard 7T Flinn INVENTOR.

United States Patent 6 BATH MAT HANGER Howard T. Flinn, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application October 2, 1952, Serial No. 312,723

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-158) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in bath mat hangers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which, when the user steps therefrom, will automatically suspend the mat in an out-of-theway position and in a manner to expedite the drying thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bath mat hanger of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bath mat hanger constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing the position of the device when the bath mat is in use.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view in cross-section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of an upper corner portion of the device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the lower portion of the modification.

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the lower portion of the modification, showing the mat in use.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral 10 designates generally a base structure. Rising from the base 10 is a forwardly inclined frame 11.

The base 10 includes a pair of side bars 12 of aluminum or other suitable material. The side bars 12 include upwardly curved portions 13 which continue upwardly to provide the uprights 14 of the frame 11. Adhesively secured beneath the bars 12 of the base 10 are antiskid treads or strips 15. Adjacent to but spaced from the forward ends of the bars 12, is a transverse weight 16. EX- tending between the curved portions 13 of the bars 12 is a metallic bar 17.

In addition to the uprights 14, the frame 11 includes a transverse bar 18 which extends between the upper end portions of said uprights. Mounted between the uprights 14 is a plate or panel 19 which, if desired, may be suitably ornamented.

The frame 11 is adapted to suspend a bath mat, as at 28, in the manner shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings. Toward this end, the upper end portions of the uprights 14 in the embodiment shown, have formed therein vertical slots 21. One end portion of the mat 20 Piaitented Jan. 15, 1 957.

is folded over the top of. the. frame 11 and the fold 22 (see FiglirS) is inserted through the slots 21 for frictionally anchoiingsaidniat.

It is thought, that the operation'of the devic'ewill bereadily apparent from. a. consideration of the foregoing. Briefly the weight 16, together with that of the base 10, is sufl'icient to normally maintain the frame 11 with the mat 20 thereon, in an upright position by gravity. When thus suspended, the mat 20 hangs clear of the frame 11 by reason of the forward inclination of said frame. When the bather wishes to use the mat 20, the frame 11, with said mat thereon, is simply swung downwardly to a horizontal position on the floor, the portions 13 of the base bars 12 functioning as rockers. The panel 19 will then support the bather when he stands on the mat 20, the latter resting on said panel. When the bather steps off the mat, the weighted base 10 swings the frame 11 with said mat thereon upwardly to a vertical position.

The modification shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing comprises a base 25 in the form of a slab of suitable material of suflicient weight. The base 25 includes a rounded rear edge or side 26.

Mounted for limited swinging movement in a vertical plane on the rear portion of the base 25 is a frame 27. The frame 27 includes uprights 28 having their lower end portions pivotally secured at 29 to the sides of the base 25 adjacent the rear end thereof. In other respects the frame 27 is substantially similar structurally to the frame 11. Stops 30 and 31 project from the sides of the base 25 for engagement by the lower end portions of the uprights 28 above and below the pivots 29 for limiting swinging movement of the frame 27 in opposite directions.

When the mat 2%) is suspended from the top of the frame 27, said frame rests by gravity in a forwardly inclined position against the upper stops 30. This is shown to advantage in Figure 7 of the drawing. When the mat 20 is to be used, the frame 27 with said mat thereon, is swung rearwardly and downwardly on the pins 29. When this occurs the lower end portions of the uprights 23 engage the lower stops 31 for rocking the base 25 upwardly on the curved surface 26 thereof to the position of Figure 8 of the drawing. With the frame 27 and the mat 20 thereon resting on the floor, the bather steps on said mat and his weight, of course, is suflicient to maintain the base 25 in the position of Figure 8. However, when the bather steps off the mat 20 the base 25 gravitates to the position of Figure 7 of the drawing for raising the frame 27 with the mat 2i) thereon, said frame swinging forwardly and coming to rest against the upper stops 30.

It is believed that the many advantages of a bath mat hanger constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new A bath mat hanger of the character described comprising a base including a pair of spaced, parallel side bars, said side bars including upwardly curved end portions providing rockers, a weight mounted transversely on the side bars adjacent the other end portions thereof, and a frame for supporting a mat in suspension, rising from the side bars and being inclined over the base, said frame including a pair of spaced, parallel uprights integral with the upwardly curved end portions of the side bars, a panel mounted between the uprights, and a bar extending transversely between the upper end portions of the uprights, said weight maintaining said frame in a substantially up- 3 I 4 right position by gravity, said uprights having vertical slots 520,690 Kuen May 29, 1894 in said upper end portions for the reception of the mat 626,256 Webb June 6, 1899 for frictionally anchoring said mat to the frame. 1,492,008 Weber Apr. 29, 1924 r I 1,505,046 Lush Aug. 12, 1924 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 1,779,069 L O 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PA 1,994,981 Cook Mar. 19, 1935 12 140 Stahmer Aug 4,.1903 2,100,235 Brown 1937 252,190 Collins Jan. 10, 1882 

